tl19711015-000 "towerlight TOWSGLI_State_Cfillega____ 14. .1 � I October 15, 1971 Fisher covers community issues at first press conference by Wayne Kirwan President Fisher announced Tuesday that the college would initiate a major new program, designed to meet the needs of the Baltimore metropolitaa community. Called PROJECT OUTREACH, the program is, in Fisher's words, ""a two-fold plan to extend our services wherever needed throughout the broader community, and to bring the broader community onto our campus."" TL staff photo by Phelan President Fisher holds the first college community press conference. Thanksgiving set as occupancy date of College AnnouncingThe program at a press conference held in his office, Fisher stated that the goal of PROJECT OUTREACH is to serve the interests of both the college and the general community by breaking down the communication barriers which separate the two communities. Hoping to achieve mutual understanding between ""peoples and com-munities,"" Fisher asserted that ""...a well insulated college campus no longer meets the needs of a rapidly changing complex world."" Under a new academic program Towson State College will initiate several innovative ventures. One of the more important plans calls for Towson to offer various education experiences upon the request of 17-18 people. A self-supporting endeavor, Towson will ""spare no effort"" in attempting to present a college-level subject at any particular time and at any requested place whether it be in a private home or a church basement. Other academic plans call for courses geared to the needs of special interest groups such as the seminar held recently on campus by members of the banking community, to discuss the new Nixon economics. New independent study programs, and new personal options for the student in developing his own arts and sciences major are included in the new academic offerings of the college. To facilitate Towson's pledge to serve the community, Fisher announced the ap-pointment of a full-time college staff member to help deter-mine what the real needs of the community are so the college may better meet them. In citing the need for such a position Fisher said, -We believe colleges too often tell the people what they need, and too seldom ask them what they want. We're about the business of asking."" TowsoN CLUB Turning to another area ot college plans Fisher reiterated his support for the Towson Club, a proposed off-campus private club for administration members, faculty, students, staff, and members of the Towson business community. Towson being recently criticized in the press for the club plans, Fisher emphasized that the club would be in the best interests of the , educational program of the college, no state funds would finance the club, and the club would operate ""in keeping with the most diffident and refined traditions of the American university. by George E. Mattingly The latest ""date"" for ""substantial occupancy"" of the new College Centre has been set for around the Thanksgiving break. While one could hardly be faulted for expressing disbelief at the new figure, (after all, nobody has bothered to meet the first dozen or so that have been set,) the date does seem to be relatively accurate. Since Towerlight last blasted the contractor, Maryland Properties Incorporated for their inefficiency, things have progressed at a substantially faster clip. Director of Auxiliary Services, Donald McCulloh said, ""They're really Pushing. Of course they should have been going at this rate last May."" McCulloh also indicated that the State is beginning apply more and More pressure as time goes on. Wayne N. Schelle, Vice- President of Business and Finance, expressed the hope that substantial turnovers take place before Thanksgiving, and that the students take ad-vantage of the multi-faceted recreational opportunities provided in the new center. Schelle is also anxious to provide the plethora of new job opportunities that will result form the building's com-pletion. On the more immediate scene, Director of Operations, Dick Metz, has spent a great deal of time trying to keep interest alive in what, until last week, was a relatively useless building. The pool rooms are open and ready for business, and Dick hopes to have the bowling alleys in operation today, or early next week at the latest. Both Schelle and Metz have indicated that there will be price adjustments made in the pool rates in the immediate future. Dick has indicated that he is open to suggestions, and is more than happy to hear people out if they have something constructive to say. Many people fail to realize that the bulk of the student fees go towards retiring the bond that financed the construction of the building, and that a .elatively insignificant amount f,oes toward the operation 'of. the Centre itself. One way to make up the vast difference between the budget of the College Centre and the amount of student fee contribution is to charge for the use of the facilities. Mr. Schelle pointed out that the prices charged at the Centre are competitive with the outside market, and that there is no way to deter-mine just how much money the operation is going to make or lose. If the operation makes money, the charges will be reduced. Obviously if the building loses money some sort of adjustment will have to be made, either in the form of a DEVELOPMENT A third area of the Fisher press conference centered on Towson's future and development. Under the auspices of Vice President for Institutional Development, Paul Wisdom, Towson State has received 1 1/ 2 million dollars in gifts and grants to be used for educational purposes. Included in the amount which has been amassed in the past year, is the oriental ivory art collection donated to the college by Mr. Frank Roberts, valued at $167,000. In revealing the gifts and financial contributions to the college Fisher stated that resources beyond those provided by the state are necessary to advance Towson from a good institution to a great one. To attain this ""margin of excellence"" (MOE), Towson will institute a yearly fund drive, the first of which gets its kickoff at the half-time of this week's homecoming football game. Adding that the resources achieved through the yearly fund drives will be used to purchase books and other library tools, Fisher appealed for support by stating, ""I invite the attention and interest of all Marylanders."" Centre fee raise, or a price ad-justment. If you haven't been down to the new College Centre since the book rush, why not drop by and see what all those people have been doing down there all this time. IL staff photo by Blackburn Recreational rooms are now open in the new College Centre. "